A graphic novel adaptation of L.M. Montgomery's classic about a precocious, imaginative, and incident-prone orphan who finds a home, family, a bosom friend, and eventually a career at Green Gables on Prince Edward Island in the late 1800s.

I have very high standards for my Anne of Green Gables adaptations. Anne Shirley was my absolute favorite character for several years of my childhood. Most play with friends and sisters revolved around her. I devoured her entire series of books before I finished elementary and went back to visit my favorites again. And I watched the first two PBS movies over, and over, and over. I haven't re-visited the books or movies for several years now but reading this brought back all the nostalgia. I was just going to look at the opening page before bed the other night, and next thing I knew I had finished the entire book. I love the green-saturated illustrations that bring across the beauty of PEI and create a green for Green Gables theme. Marsden includes all the most important Anne moments of the first book, and she's captured the heart of Montgomery's Anne Shirley oh so well. Now because this is a graphic novel and she did have to parse down the story to make it so that the illustrator didn't have a nervous breakdown, most of the secondary characters do get the back seat and some get cut all together (Miss Stacy gets just a teensy tiny bit of page time as does Aunt Jo; Ruby is never mentioned by name, and Jane only gets a line after Anne is at college...the focus really is on Anne and those around her during key moments.) Don't worry, Marilla, Matthew, Diana, and Gilbert get their key moments. I hope Marsden at least does the next few books in the series. Definitely ordering copies for our library and this will be going on my personal Christmas wishlist. Loved it!

Anne of Green Gables: Hell to the graphic novel YEAH!

I grew up eating a lot of cheesy macaroni and hanging around women who obsessed over Anne of Green Gables. They watched the films, read the books, pretended to be the characters. I understood macaroni but failed to understand the pull people had for Avonlea.

As I got older, I gained an appreciation. My reading branched out to more than just Stephen King and Hardy Boys. I read the first book in the series and evolved into a big bearded dude who doesn't change the channel when some variation comes on the Hallmark channel. Netflix launched 'Anne with an E' and I holed up in the bedroom with my wife to consume it.

I nearly peed myself when I found out a new Graphic Novel was slated for release.

Anne of Green Gables: A Graphic Novel (Brenna Thummler, Mariah Marsden)
232 pages
Andrews McMeel Publishing
ISBN-10: 144947960X
ISBN-13: 978-1449479602

I will refrain from a full plot review. Everyone knows what happens in this story. If you do not know the story, buy this comic and allow it to be an easy stepping stone.

I have to say that "stoked" is an inaccurate description of how pleased I was to get an early look at this stellar Anne of Green Gables Graphic Novel. Beautiful presentation and respectful of the original work and its fanbase.

Marsden did a wonderful job adapting the story for a comic format. Immense Green Gables fans can rest easy knowing that the original book is treated with love. Many sections play out the plotline in detail. Other key scenes in the story are vignettes, moving forward quickly rather than dwelling. Marsden keeps the story moving and ensures all reads are aware if what is happening, why it is important and doesn't dawdle.

The artwork... Thummler is the star of this effort. The artwork is seriously amazing. Watching Anne grow from awkward orphan to young woman organically flowed across the pages. Thummler captured the changes in seasons for both Gables and Anne alike.

This Graphic Novel is a beautiful testament to the classic. Marilla and Matthew Cuthbert are wonderful and generous loving parents. Diana is a bosom friend. Aunt Josephine is a strong example. Mrs. Lynde stays nosy and powerful. And Gilbert- he remains the steadfast friend Anne refuses to acknowledge.

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Disclosure: This Graphic Novel was supplied to me for review purposes by the author or publisher. With great power comes great sandwich making responsibilities. I have said power and will make fine sammiches for all who ask. The publisher did not ask for a sammich.

E' la prima volta che leggo un fumetto tratto da un'opera letteraria senza conoscere il romanzo originale, ma Anna dai capelli rossi, come è chiamato qui in Italia, mi incuriosiva troppo (e poi, quale bambina degli anni '80, conoscevo già la storia grazie all'anime replicato più volte in tv).

Come mi è già capitato con altre opere destinate ad un pubblico più giovane, da adulta l'ho trovato bellissimo. E posso dire di adorare quella Anne che da bambina non riuscivo a capire e talvolta trovavo petulante.

La storia è nota ai più: la piccola orfana Anne arriva, per errore, alla casa dal tetto verde - da cui il titolo originale -, i cui proprietari, i fratelli Matthew e Marilla, aspettavano un ragazzino che li aiutasse con il lavoro nei campi (e pensare che in passato si potessero effettivamente "ordinare" ragazzini negli orfanotrofi allo scopo di farli lavorare, è di per sé agghiacciante).
Pur essendo inizialmente contraria, la donna accetta, su insistenza di Matthew, di tenere la piccola. "What good could she do us?" chiede. "Well, now..." risponde lui " We could do some good for her". Potremmo fare noi qualcosa per lei.
Comincia così la nuova vita di Anne, una vita in cui le è assicurato un tetto sulla testa, un'istruzione, degli amici, e finalmente qualcuno che la ami...

Anne è una ragazzina profondamente ferita, e fa male percepirlo dalle risposte che gli adulti magari giudicano bizzarre, o dal suo legarsi al dito per anni una presa in giro di un compagno di classe. E' inoltre insofferente alle ingiustizie, dice tutto ciò che pensa, ed ha un rapporto molto particolare con la natura che la circonda: un fiore, un albero, acquistano nomi propri e diventano personaggi delle sue fantasie. Ma è pur sempre una ragazzina, distratta, avventata, desiderosa di non essere più sola. A tal proposito, è molto bello il modo in cui, con una sola tavola, l'illustratrice ci mostra la profonda gioia di Anne nell'aver trovato finalmente un'amica in Diana.

Il mio personaggio preferito è però Matthew, che da subito ama quella bimba chiacchierona e sarà sempre dalla sua parte, efficace intercessore presso la più dura Marilla.
Le ultime scene che lo vedono protagonista mi hanno commosso come nulla era riuscito a fare da molto tempo.
Ottimo anche il personaggio di Marilla, che ho apprezzato soprattutto alla fine, quando apre il suo cuore ad Anne e le dà dei consigli affinché la sua vita possa essere diversa dalla propria e più felice.

I disegni sono piuttosto particolari. Mi piacciono molto i colori, per lo più ispirati alla natura protagonista di molte tavole: il verde, il marrone, l'azzurro.

I personaggi sono longilinei, e richiamano quelli dell'anime che probabilmente ha influenzato l'immaginario di chiunque negli ultimi decenni. Anne, in particolare, non si può dire bella, con il suo strano nasino, ma tutte le tavole sono di una delicatezza unica e veramente piacevoli.

Ho amato davvero molto questo fumetto, e il mio interesse per la piccola Anne e le sue vicende, se possibile, si è acuito ancor di più.

Ever since my mom read Lucy Maud Montgomery’s Anne of Green Gables to me as a small child, Anne has been a favorite of mine. I adored the book, watched the movies, and immersed myself in the recent Neflix series, Anne With an E. And really, what’s not to like? L.M.’s Anne is strong, spunky, and utterly hilarious. She’s a young female character who breaks the mold and shows girls that it’s okay (or even super great) to have a wild imagination and speak your mind.

I can see why some might be a tad hesitant to read this graphic novel adaptation, seeing as new versions of books sometimes don’t live up to the originals; however, I, for one, am so glad that I read this adaptation, for it truly is a wonderful retelling of the classic.

The writer, Mariah Marsden, stays very faithful to how I remember the original storyline. (Although it has been a while since I’ve read Anne of Green Gables.) She does a fantastic job of working with the artist to transport the reader into Anne’s world. My only complaint writing-wise is that some parts of the book (mainly transitions) felt rushed. I felt like it could have been longer, especially considering how quick of a read it is.

Brenna Thummler’s illustrations are magnificent. The style and the colors feel spot-on;, and the characters and settings are just how I imagined them to be. The drawings are simplistic, yet still completely gorgeous. I especially adored Thummler’s beautiful landscapes. I found the characters’ eyes to be sort of creepy—they looked empty, more like doll eyes than the eyes of a real person—but other than that, I have nothing but praise for the artwork.

The quick and easy-to-read graphic novel format makes this book a great introduction to Anne’s story, especially for reluctant young readers who may be intimidated by the original. I feel confident that my tween siblings will enjoy this book, and I will definitely be recommending it to them. (Including my 11-year-old brother who only wants to read comics and sports books.) That said, I am in no way a reluctant reader, and I still loved this adaptation despite having read the original; it was so much fun to read this fresh take on one of my favorite childhood books.

All in all, Marsden and Thummler did a fantastic job creating a graphic novel adaptation of a beloved story that is sure to please kindred spirits new and old alike.

Thank you to the publisher for sending me an ARC via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

An original retelling of the classic children's book Anne of Green Gables in the form of a graphic novel. The illustrations are delightful and capture the nature and feel of L.M Montgomery's Avonlea and Anne Shirley. It is a good introduction to the series but will also be loved by those who have already taken Anne to their hearts.

I received an arc from Netgalley and the publishers in exchange for an honest review. I read Anne of Green Gables for the very first time this year. However, I've loved the adaptation for years now.

Mariah Marsden and Brenna Thummler adapted Anne's well loved story into a stunning graphic novel.

The art work fits the story perfectly and they adapted the story faithfully. No major changes were made. The artists succeeded in bringing Anne's story to life in their illustrations. The atmosphere was captured wonderfully.

I will definitely be purchasing this graphic novel when I get the chance! It's a must read for all fans of Anne of Green Gables! I hope they will continue adapting the rest of the series because I'm hooked!

I gave Anne of Green Gables: A Graphic Novel 5 stars! I fell in love with the illustrations from the first page. I can't recommend this graphic novel enough!

I make no secret of my love for the Anne books; it is unending and ardent and utterly complete. While I will confess to having a critical eye where each and any adaption of her story is concerned, I strive, nevertheless, to approach these new iterations with a heart that is open and optimistic. I am ever ready to embrace a fresh retelling, and I am so very happy to be able to welcome Marsden and Thummler’s efforts into the fold.

This interpretation of Anne of Green Garbles follows very closely to the text and, more importantly, is kindred to the book’s spirit. (See what I did there? I know you did. Hey, stop rolling your eyes. This is what my Anne love does to me!) The artwork is eye-catching and a lovely reflection of Anne’s enchantment with the world around her. I do rather wish the character’s eyes were more than solid colored circles, especially when Anne’s are so often noted as being grey (in the books. See? I’m a stickler.) and here they are green, but I’m willing to overlook it. And I love, love that we’ve got a long haired, bearded Matthew. Speaking of things I love, I cannot tell you how happy I was to see the inclusion of the scene where Gilbert keeps Anne’s dropped flower. It’s a favorite moment of mine, and it is so often left out of adaptions!

To switch from fangirl to librarian gear, I do find it interesting that while I generally don’t care for “juvenile adaptions” of classics, I really am all in favor of graphic novels. They add this extra layer of accessibility and appeal, and I adore them for providing an additional entryway to stories that some readers may have found barred to them or that they simply would never have bothered to explore. While I feel there are a few passages here that could bewilder without foreknowledge of the story, I really do think this adaptation of Anne of Green Gables has to potential to attract a swathe of new readers to the shores of PEI and world of Avonlea.

I do hope that they continue with adaptations of the remainder of the Anne books. My inner fangirl is desperate for some “true” visual adaptions of the later books. (I want Miss Lavender! And Roy Gardner! Show me their house of dreams! And all those Blythe kids! Bring me Rilla!) If I can’t get it in film form, I will gladly throw my money at a graphic novel. And my professional self would like to be able to steer reluctant readers to these pages knowing that complete fulfillment awaits them.

When I saw this on netgalley and that it was a graphic novel of Anne of green gables, I hopped on it so quick! THIS WAS SO GREAT. It had all my favorite parts of the book and portrayed all the characters so well and so accurate to the book. That was my favorite thing, how this was the book shortened down to a graphic novel! I was worried that the pacing might be hard, or the characters wouldn't come off the same, but I was pleasantly surprised. I would highly suggest reading the book before this though cause the pacing makes more sense after reading the book. Also this artwork was A++. The coloring was sooooo pretty and I can't wait to buy my own copy and reread it!

The landscapes are where the art is strongest. But Marsden captures Anne's spirit perfectly here. It's a good and concise retelling of the first Anne book. And is the graveyard on page 224 a nod to LM Montgomery's MacNeill heritage and Macdonald marriage?

This year Anne of Green Gables has been immensely popular this year. This graphic novel is a faithful adaptation of the L. M. Montgomery book. The only thing I did not like about it is that the illustrations did not appeal to me. Still, this adaption will appeal to children and fans of Anne of Green Gables.

Anne, oh Anne. Growing up I fell in love with Anne and her imagination--so much so that I almost had my mother convinced that for my 16th birthday and following Christmas presents shouldn't be physical gifts but a trip to Green Gables. Alas, it did not work. But still, my love has persisted.

This illustrated Anne of Green Gables touched on my love for all things Anne and while I wouldn't suggest it for people that haven't ever been introduced to Anne through the books or the movie (...or the Netflix series)--just because there is so much more for you to fall in love with through the other formats, I did enjoy the illustrations and the short dialogues that were still able to convey the adventure and imagination... and then growth of Anne of Green Gables.

A great book! So colourful and vibrant. Will definitely order :)

This book was so sweet. The tale of Anne of Green Gables is beautiful. I haven't yet read the novel by L.M Montgomery. The Graphic novel was such a splendid charming read. There aren't many characters who are so bubbly and a little bit of a handful like Anne. The illustrations by Brenna Thummler were done well and it only made me love the story even more with such vibrant colours. I think that reading graphic novel adaptations of classics are almost better and an easier read than the actual book because you can see it and there is less to read.
I recommend this book to 9+ because of how easy it is to grasp the concept and lessons from this book because of the pictures. This was a quick enjoyable read with an amazing character and setting.
4.5/5

Thank you to Netgalley for allowing me the opportunity to read this graphic novel!
I knew of the adaptation of Anne of Green Gables on Netflix but I had never stopped to think or read up about Anne of Green Gables before. When I saw this adaption on a graphic novel, I decided to dive in and read it. I'm so glad I did!
This graphic novel holds the whimsical spirit of a little girl and encapsulates everything that I would imagine a younger girl with an overactive imagination would act like. The artwork was beautiful and so unique, I loved it!

Reinterpreting a classic to graphic novel form can be a bit tricky, but I think Marsden really nailed it with Anne of Green Gables. I re-read the original book earlier this year, so the scenes and feeling of the story were still fresh in my memory when I began. The art style is very simple and vibrant, and really compliments the scenes.

While a lot of the dense details of the story have been stripped, the overall feeling and magic of the original is conveyed wonderfully. The beauty of nature, Anne's fixation of having puffed sleeves, and the simple familiarity of the house at Green Gables really take you right back into the heart of the story. I don't know how engaging it would be for readers who haven't read the book first, but as a long time fan I loved seeing the scenes from my imagination unfold in a new form.

This is an incredible retelling of one of my most beloved books. They trimmed down a lot of the original book to fit the graphic novel format so if you read this and want to know more of the story I would highly suggest reading the L.M. Montgomery original. If you’ve read the original book and are dying for more of our beloved Anne then this book does the trick.

They did an incredible job of trimming down the dialogue and other writing from the original book while also retaining the whimsy and heart of the book. The way the facial expressions and transition scenes are drawn make it feel like you aren’t missing out on anything. The art and the story pair beautifully together and I am really happy with the result.

The art itself is absolutely stunning. The colors are really soft without losing their brightness and the line art is very charming and not too blocky. This makes it really fit the spirit of the original text. They also really captured the essence of the characters. The facial expressions REALLY add depth to the characters and lend an unspoken dialogue to replace the narrative nature of a “normal” book.

Another thing the art did a good job of doing was showing what Anne was imagining or what was actually going on. It made the readers part of her imaginative, ever changing world. This did a wonderful job of retaining the charm of the original story while also giving us something new.

I'm almost ashamed to admit that I have never read the Anne books (I was an obsessive LHOTP reader...didn't "have time" for them).

So really, I went into this GN blind, with no pre-conceptions. I found it delightful, colorful, and it made me smile. More importantly, it made me want to read the actual books. Lovely graphics that helped tell the story.

Such a charming rendition of a childhood favorite. There is always room for another way to enjoy the adventures of plucky Anne of Green Gables.

If you’ve followed me on twitter for any amount of time, you already know how much I love ANNE OF GREEN GABLES. I know a lot of people think it’s too outdated but Anne Shirley is always going to be my kindred spirit. Since I was a kid, I’ve collected all sorts of editions of AoGG. Mass paperbacks, special editions, storybooks, movie books… you name it, I want it. So when I saw Dee’s August wrap up and realized there is an AoGG graphic novel coming out, you can be bet I jumped all over it.

It’s the same ol’ story about Anne Shirley coming to Green Gables, the trouble she gets herself into, and the quieter (but still imaginative) young woman she grows in to. What sets this apart, of course, is the artwork. The designs are very simplistic but extremely beautiful and I think the plainness of the art lends itself well to the story. A lot of graphic novels lose their plot because the art just overpowers it but the original AoGG shines through here.

The only reason I couldn’t give this graphic novel 5 stars is that I felt they left out some of the more important aspects of AoGG. It would have been nice to see more Anne and Matthew, and more Anne and Gilbert. While I think it hit the high points of the story, the best parts of AoGG are the little details.

However, if you are an Anne Shirley fan, I definitely recommend this to you!

“Anne of Green Gables” has been one of my favourite books for 20 years, so when a friend told me about this graphic novel, I knew I have to read it. I think every person interested in this book already knows the story of Anne, so there’s no need to write a plot summary. I was a bit concerned if the authors were able to convey all the aspects of Montgomery’s classic on mere 230 illustrated pages, but they truly were. It’s very faithful to the original story - of course there’s less details, but all the important moments we love so dear are there: the great apology to Mrs. Lynde, breaking a slate on Gilbert’s head, Anne dyeing her hair green, Matthew’s failed attempt to buy a dress for her, and many, many more.

As for the art style, the first thing I noticed were the bright, vivid colours, especially all the greens. The characters though need a little getting used to, because the illustrator - Brenna Thummler, has a very characteristic way of drawing people. I grew to like those new versions of Matthew, Marilla, Gilbert, Diana, and Mrs. Lynde, and their facial expressions - especially Marilla’s reactions to Anne’s words and actions. But Anne… I don’t know. I actually liked everything about her, except her face. Seriously, on some panels she looks like she’s about to eat your soul for breakfast. But if I just ignore this little fact, she’s the same Anne I know and love from the original book.

In general, I think this book is a great tribute to L.M. Montgomery’s work. It’s a lovely, colourful, captivating read, perfect for all the “Anne of Green Gables” fans, as well as for those, who don’t know this lively, talkative redhead yet.